trailer loading...

[jan in armuchee]

Tis the season to starting thinking about taking our horses off the unemployeed list, getting them ready to trail ride and/or show. So it leads to the discussion of teaching them to load. I have my two youngest that have not been trailered. Well actually one was when he was very very young, but not been on a trailer since. Last year when i attempted it, he was not cooperative at all. Benji, my youngest, now a new two year old, has recently hopped onto the trailer. ONCE. BUT that was because I had feed tempting him. In an effort to get them to load willingly, I have started feeding on the trailer. Nothing for these two in the stalls, on the trailer only. So this leads me to ask the board, what you guys do to teach them to willingly load. Any other suggestions? Tips? Tricks?
TIA
Jan

[man from snowy river]

hard work outside the trailer and rest in or near the trailer. Do this Gradually till they realise its much easier just getting in there. reward any "try" they give. There is no harm luring them in with feed at first but IMO its better to work them where they want to be in there. Another thing you can do if you are not great at longueing, you can get in the trailer with a person on the outside to apply pressure, Use a end of a lead or a carrot stick. take pressue away every time the horse tries. Once in the trailer let him rest and even a bit of hay to reward him. Amber and I are great at this but its hard to explain. i wish we had videos of all the horses we have had to load...LOL

[CenturyOak]

Work away from the trailer, rest near or in it is awesome. I used that one a very cranky gelding.. when he refused we went back to the round pen and worked.. then we tried again, after about the 4th time he loaded right up. Smart cookie

Treats I find personally don't seem to work if they just decide they don't want on. What I will do tho is twist the top of the halter where it goes across their poll, and apply pressure until they step forward, if they even lean forward I release pressure. This doesn't give them that nice cushy something to lean against. I've used this time and time again over the years when I was loading by myself. Steady pressure and release immediately at the first sign of any forward movement or thought and lots of praise.